🏏 Sun, 24 May 2026 21:00 CEST
Villarreal CF
vs
Atletico Madrid
4-4-2 vs 4-4-2
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- A final-matchday head-to-head with a Champions League place on the line. Villarreal and Atletico Madrid are level on 69 points, with identical goal differences of +22 each. If 3rd-place Villarreal win they confirm their position, but if 4th-place Atletico win, their 2-0 home victory in this season's matchday 4 means Atletico would edge the head-to-head and finish 3rd in a reversal.
- Both sides use a 4-4-2 system, with the battle for control in the four-man midfields holding the key. Villarreal's centre is dominated by the pairing of veteran Dani Parejo (35, who made 383 appearances for former club Valencia) and 189cm Senegal international Pape Gueye. Atletico build their midfield around club legend Koke (32, over 700 career appearances) and young Mexico international Oscar Vargas, who joined from MLS side Seattle this season.
- An eye-catching tie with multiple former-club reunions. Atletico's Alex Baena (23) won the Europa League with Villarreal in 2021 and was also LaLiga's assist king, a former Villarreal playmaker. On the bench waits 196cm striker Alexander Sorloth (30). Meanwhile, Villarreal's Sofiane Mourinho (24) is a former Atletico Madrid defender facing his old club.
- The quality of the attacks could decide the match. Villarreal field a strike pairing of Georges Mikautadze (24, Georgia international, contender for the EURO 2024 Golden Boot), on loan from Napoli this summer, and Ayoze Perez (31, Spain international), who became the team's top scorer with 19 goals in his first season. Atletico, by contrast, count on the combination of Nigeria international Ademola Lookman (26), who scored a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, and France's playmaker Antoine Griezmann (33).
- Form over the last five games separates them. Atletico are in good shape with four wins and one loss (W-W-L-W-W), while Villarreal are stuttering with two wins, one draw and two losses (W-W-D-L-L). In particular, Villarreal lost 0-2 away to Rayo Vallecano last time out and also suffered a 2-3 home comeback defeat to Sevilla on matchday 36, making a turnaround in their final home game essential.
- The experience in defence is also an important factor. Villarreal are protected at the back by Barcelona academy product goalkeeper Arnau Tenas (23, with Champions League experience at PSG), while Atletico use Argentina international goalkeeper Juan Musso (32), who has extensive experience at Atalanta and Udinese. World-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak (31, Slovenia international) also waits on the bench, with a substitution possible depending on how the game develops late on.